1940s-era revue coming to Case Middle School for three shows Nov. 8, 9

For Rebecca A. Rose, general music and choral teacher at Case Middle School, this years fall revue at the school is more than about the music.

Were losing thousands of veterans a day, she said. For some of these kids, these are their family members. Its important to me that we pay respect.

Those Fabulous 40s  A Jazz and World War II Revue includes songs from the World War II era. The revue, Friday and Saturday in the Case Middle School gym, will include a salute to service members and veterans.

Mrs. Rose began her revue shows last year with a Hollywood version.

Every year we are going to pick a theme, she said. Last year was a test run. It was a screaming success.

This years revue includes a history lesson for students.

In our Saturday rehearsals, were going to be doing some workshops in the morning about the World War II era and what it would have been like, Mrs. Rose said last month.

The first half of Those Fabulous 40s will feature jazz music. The set resembles a New York City jazz club.

There was that link of the late-30s jazz near the end of the Great Depression, Mrs. Rose said. I wanted to give the kids that exposure of the transition into the war years and not have it just be an hour-and-a-half to two hours of war music.

A seven-piece band of adult volunteers and students will provide music.

Last year we used canned music because we were getting our feet under us, Mrs. Rose said.

When you hear the music, like In the Mood and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, it doesnt matter the age, it just evokes memories of World War II, Mrs. Rose said.

The set in the second act will switch to a USO club as soldiers prepare to depart for overseas.

Were invoking the era with the hair, costumes, makeup, music and the sets, Mrs. Rose said.

The end of the first half of the revue will feature a Salute to Heros, where songs from every branch of the U.S. military will be performed. Mrs. Rose has sent letters to Fort Drum and local American Legions inviting soldiers and veterans.

The revue cast, Mrs. Rose said, is mainly made up of girls. They are learning about the Womens Air Corps, U.S. Naval (Womens) Reserve (WAVES), and the work of women in factories on the homefront.

The music in the revue, Mrs. Rose said, wasnt used solely for entertainment. It also served a function, she said.

When these guys were sitting in trenches overseas, the USO shows would come and perform for them and build morale, she said. The music was used as a big propaganda tool as well. You forget sometimes what you learned about in a lot of this music. Its to build support when things might necessarily not be going that incredibly well.

the detailsWHAT: Those Fabulous 40s – a Jazz and World War II Revue, presented by music students at Case Middle SchoolWHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday in the middle school gym, 1237 Washington St.COST: $7 for adults, $5 for students, senior citizens and members of the military

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